MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers sit aboard a Malian military armed car at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers sit aboard a Malian military armed car at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

A French Mirage F1 CR fighter aircraft, coming from N'Djamena (Chad), is seen at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

A French Mirage F1 CR fighter aircraft, coming from N'Djamena (Chad), is seen at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

French Mirage F1 CR fighter aircrafts, coming from N'Djamena (Chad), are seen at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

French Mirage F1 CR fighter aircrafts, coming from N'Djamena (Chad), are seen at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

A French soldier from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, waits at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013 before a deployment of his military unit in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

A French soldier from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, waits at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013 before a deployment of his military unit in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from the 2nd RIMA (French Navy Infantry Regiment), arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from 2nd RIMA, arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

French soldiers from 2nd RIMA, arriving from France, stand at the 101 military airbase near Bamako on January 14, 2013, before their deployment in north of Mali. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers launched on January 11 against hardline Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. AFP PHOTO /ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ISSOUF SANOGO

People wait to donate blood as a newspaper reading ''Long live France!'' referring to France's military intervention in Mali is seen, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

People wait to donate blood as a newspaper reading ''Long live France!'' referring to France's military intervention in Mali is seen, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ISSOUF SANOGO

People wait to donate blood as a newspaper reading ''Long live France!'' referring to France's military intervention in Mali is seen, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

People wait to donate blood as a newspaper reading ''Long live France!'' referring to France's military intervention in Mali is seen, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ISSOUF SANOGO

A man reads a local newspaper reading ''Long live France!'' referring to France's military intervention as he waits to donate blood, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

A man reads a local newspaper reading ''Long live France!'' referring to France's military intervention as he waits to donate blood, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ISSOUF SANOGO

People donate blood for the injured, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

People donate blood for the injured, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ISSOUF SANOGO

People donate blood, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0

People donate blood, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOG0